Scotland’s best-known military band is coming to the end of its first-ever national tour – and is set to perform in Inverness following a warm welcome today from the local Depute Provost.
The Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland has been performing at venues across the country as part of its “Walking with Heroes” centenary tour which is aiming to raise thousands of pounds for Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.
Scotland’s State Band, as it is also known, will be performing at the stunning Inverness Cathedral on October 20th. Today, however, members of the Band joined Inverness Depute Provost Graham Ross and the Poppyscotland team to spread the word about the eagerly anticipated concert.
Depute Lord Provost Ross said: “It is an honour to welcome the Band of The Royal Regiment of Scotland to Inverness and it is wonderful that the Cathedral has been chosen as one of the venues for the Band to play on its centenary tour. I would like to take this opportunity to wish them well in meeting their fundraising targets for the very deserving Armed Forces charity Poppyscotland.”
To accompany the centenary tour, there is also a CD – Walking with Heroes – which will commemorate 100 years since the end of The Great War, and honour those that served our nation so valiantly. The programme includes works by such iconic composers as Holst, Shostakovich, John Williams and Karl Jenkins alongside new compositions and arrangements. These include traditional Scottish fayre and feature a whole host of soloists; in particular the unmistakable skirl of the pipes!
Gordon Michie, Head of Fundraising, said: “It is a privilege for Poppyscotland to be in partnership with such a talented group of musicians. The tour is providing a great opportunity for music-lovers across the country to experience the unmistakable and memorable sound of Scotland’s State Band. We urge the public to get their hands on tickets for the performance in Inverness as soon as possible as this is the final leg of what has been a historic and special tour.”
As well as the tour itself, the Band has undertaken another fundraising effort in the form of The 1918 Poppy Pledge. Not only is this a lasting tribute to those who fell in the First World War, but, importantly, will also allow the Poppyscotland to make a step change in the scale of support it is able to provide those in the Armed Forces community who rely on the charity’s support today. For more information on The 1918 Poppy Pledge, please visit: www.poppyscotland.org.uk/poppypledge.
Notes to editors:
- For media enquiries or to arrange an interview, please contact Fraser Bedwell, Head of Marketing at Poppyscotland, on 07989 419 026, or email at f.bedwell@poppyscotland.org.uk.
- To contact Depute Provost Graham Ross, please telephone or email Agnes Swanson, Secretary to the Provost, on 01463 785019, or at agnes.swanson@highland.gov.uk.
- Images are free to use. Please credit: Tex Avery/Highland Dreams Photography. Tex can be contacted at mail@highlanddreams.photography. Joining Depute Provost Graham Ross at the photoshoot were Director of Music Major James Marshall (wearing glasses) and Band Sergeant Major WO2 John McQuat.
- The Band of the Royal Regiment of Scotland is one of the 22 Regular Army bands and is based at Dreghorn Barracks, Edinburgh. It is a symphonic wind band with the additional capability of a Ceilidh band. The main role of the band is to support the Army, the State and Ceremonial occasions that occur within Scotland. Attending the photocall are Band members LCpl Mark Angus and LCpl Natalie Mair.
- Poppyscotland provides life-changing support to the Armed Forces community. Money raised from the Scottish Poppy Appeal and Poppyscotland’s year-round fundraising enables them to deliver support to members of the Armed Forces community in Scotland by providing tailored funding and assistance. The charity also funds services in advice, employment, housing, mental health, mobility and respite. Please note that we are known as “Poppyscotland”, and not “PoppyScotland” or “Poppy Scotland”. For more information, please visit us at: www.poppyscotland.org.uk.
